chipbennett

I like this idea. The water purification can even have a tech tree, and depending on the scarcity of salt, could prove to be a necessity. This is all off-the-cuff, but maybe something like so? Tier 0: Boil salt water in a large ceramic vessel, to yield a reduced volume of water, plus salt. (Perhaps have a craftable, still-like device that uses a large ceramic vessel and a barrel, with the vessel over a fire pit, and a barrel or another vessel to collect the distillate.) Output water is 50% of volume of salt water input. Volume = large ceramic vessel volume. Tier 1: Glass still placed over a forge, with collection vessel. Output water is 60% volume of salt water input. Volume = barrel volume. Tier 2: Iron still, with self-contained pilot light. Volume = 2X barrel. Output water is 70% volume of salt water input. Can rust, requiring scouring. Pilot light requires fuel, and maintenance. Overheating can result in explosion. Tier 3: Steel (stainless?) still, with self-contained pilot light. Volume = 4X barrel. Output water is 80% volume of salt water input. Can corrode, requiring passivation. Pilot light requires fuel, and maintenance. (If steam is part of TFC2, this could be fueled by a steam boiler. If mechanical tech is part of TFC2, a pressure relief valve could prevent overpressurization due to overheating.) Tier 4 (or higher?): Desalination facility, analogous to a saw mill or other automated/mechanical things.

I registered just so I could say thank you for this solution. I just installed 79.15, after not playing since just after 79 was released. I thought I was going crazy, not being able to start a fire with the firestarter. I wasted a few in-game months (and decayed, tasty venison) trying to figure it out. If this change has been added to the Wiki, I missed it. So, thank you!